Tell me about OKW

[croach]

Due to some schedule changes, we have ended up at OKW for our upcoming trip. It is not my first choice, but I am still excited about staying somewhere new. So give me your pros and cons of OKW or any info that be helpful! Thanks.

 

[Chuck S]

Pros: Boat connection to DtD, quiet relaxed feel to resort, parking near your room, great staff, huge rooms, play areas for the kids at all pools

Cons: Fitness room is lacking compared to other resorts, no elevators except in bldgs 62, 63 & 64

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Diane must be at lunch

 

[DMKEDM]

We stayed at OKW this past Friday night and absolutely loved it...it's so incredibly different in "feel" from all the other DVC resorts...people say OKW and SSR have the "condo feel," but I don't feel that "condo feel" at SSR, but I sure do feel like I'm in a neighborhood rather than a hotel at OKW...and the space is mind-boggling...it's beautiful and big...it's a truly lovely place...we will definitely plan to return, rather than not be unhappy about "having" to stay there if other resort choices are full...

It is spread out, but we're walkers so that didn't bother us at all...the busses are great...lots of them, at frequent intervals (at least the one day/night we were there)...Olivia's is a nice restaurant option--food is good and it's quite casual. The pool looked great altho we didn't try it...and the CMs were among the friendliest we encountered anywhere...

If you have a golfer in your family, he/she will think they've died and gone to heaven.

We loved it there...

Right now we're in the midst of a minor family argument...I'm trending toward SSR as my favorite, and the place to do our add-on. Son wants me to buy BCV or BWV points as our add-on (I like BWV, but I like OKW better; I adore BCV...but it's so hard to get those points!)...it's hard to argue w/staying in one of the Boardwalk properties...access to Epcot & MGM is unbelievable! But the bus service from the Boardwalk properties doesn't hold a candle to the bus service at the other resorts...(at least SSR & OKW...haven't tried a bus from WLV)...

Hope this "one person's view" is helpful to you...

 

[aclov]

DH and I stayed there for the first time in August and were grateful that we rented a car. Depending where your room is the walk to the front desk seems far. As another poster mentioned, the parking near your room is great. You can park right in front, which was so convenient. There is only one sit-down rest. on site Olivia's which we didn't try, we only ate at the walk up place when we were at the pool.
I did like that they had several pools not only the main pool. We usually stay at Boardwalk and that pool seems to be crowded alot.

I probably wouldn't stay there again unless my first choices were not available. But if you can get a 2nd floor room, it's nice to look out.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane must be at lunch

LOL, actually, I was shopping. Looks to me like folks covered things pretty well!

 

[dianeschlicht]

There are 4 pools and all have playgrounds, hot tubs and laundry facilities. There are 5 bus stops, so most units are near enough to a bus stop. While you can be a long ways from the main desk, ANY bus will get you there, since all buses stop at HH as their last stop before leaving the resort.

If you are in a 1 or 2 bedroom unit and have guests sleeping in the living room, be sure to ask for a building number 30 or higher so you have an extra door into the bathroom. This prevents you from having folks going through the master to get to the toilet.

The huge balcony and living room areas are the BEST at OKW. I also doubt you can beat the views anywhere else either. This is especially true of those buildings along the canal.

 

[GADisneyDVC]

I am not trying to be an OKW basher--just my opinion. When DH and I went on our annual trip without kids we decided to try OKW. We did not love it and will probably never stay there again unless we have to save points. It just wasn't what we were looking for and we much prefer SSR (especially for the pool and the fitness center!!!!) We also love the furnishings at SSR and did not like the ones at OKW. That is just our take on the resort and I know lots of people love it. They just won't have to worry about us trying to book a room there!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

We absolutely loved the space and the quiet of this resort. It was a delightful end to a delightful vacation. (First week was at BWV.)

 

[FormrCastMbr]

We stayed in a 1 bedroom Dec 23 - 31st and fell in love with it! One thing I can say is that we were in bldg 30 and I thought it was too far to walk to the main building...I was wrong...Maybe I am just lazy!

Have a great trip!

 

[SueOKW]

It's a great resort if you like to feel like you are really away from it all. OKW gives me two vacations for the price of one.

It is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. I enjoy the restfulness and a nice adult beverage on the verandah.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I forgot to mention the one thing I think is THE MOST important reason I love OKW. It feels like a vacation home, and not a hotel.

 

[starbox]

I forgot to mention the one thing I think is THE MOST important reason I love OKW. It feels like a vacation home, and not a hotel.

ITA. It really feels more like a beach house than a hotel.

My one big complaint with OKW, and the reason I would not book there again, is that there is no indoor seating, limited outdoor seating, and a very limited CS menu at Goods to Go. For me personally, "vacation" means never having to cook a meal or wash a dish, so I *need* a nice CS option at the resort.

If they opened an indoor CS restaurant, I'd be very happy.

 

[LoriMomx5]

We have a larger family with 5 children and really love being able to have so much space at OKW. My children love the new pool slide and my husband and I love the quieter atmosphere. We have also stayed at SSR and Wilderness Lodge Villas and loved them too, but nothing beats OKW for our families needs, except maybe tent camping at Fort wilderness which is also a family favorite!

 

[bluslag]

Stayed at OKW last 2 years and loved it. Loved the area, larger rooms, not so Disney themed, places to walk, and many bus stops to use. Have taken 2 sets of family and they both loved it too. Now we own at BWV, BCV, and OKW.

 

[diznyfanatic]

ITA. It really feels more like a beach house than a hotel.

My one big complaint with OKW, and the reason I would not book there again, is that there is no indoor seating, limited outdoor seating, and a very limited CS menu at Goods to Go. For me personally, "vacation" means never having to cook a meal or wash a dish, so I *need* a nice CS option at the resort.

If they opened an indoor CS restaurant, I'd be very happy.

I agree with this. OKW was our very first DVC stay (and one of the reasons we decided to purchase!) but the one thing that really surprised me after staying offsite, as well as at Disney Moderates and Deluxes was the CS option and seating at Goods To Go.

We really like OKW and love the neighborhood atmosphere and well as the lovely spacious rooms, but traveling with small children, we also think we might enjoy it even more if we were to try to get a location closer to HH.

 

[simzac]

I forgot to mention the one thing I think is THE MOST important reason I love OKW. It feels like a vacation home, and not a hotel.

We just returned from our first trip to OKW, and this statement best sums up our thoughts.

 

[MiaSRN62]

but the one thing that really surprised me after staying offsite, as well as at Disney Moderates and Deluxes was the CS option and seating at Goods To Go.

I agree with starbox and dznyfanatic. We own at OKW and absolutely love the extra space we get in the 1 & 2 bedrooms vs the other DVC resorts as well as the huge balconies. Really makes a difference for us. However, I do wish there was more in the way of food options. Olivia's is terrific for a sit down meal, but we don't always want a sit down. If the weather is bad (rain/too hot/too cold), the only options for seating at Goods To Go are the 5 or 6 picnic benches outside. Also, they close too early (10 pm). I think Goods should at least be open as late as the food courts are at the other disney resorts (which is about 11 or midnight). By the time we get back from the parks and we're hungry, Goods is closed and there's no options but calling for room delivery from an outside restaurant. We happen to love Giordano's and use them quite often (it's a shame Disney/DVC is losing our money for lack of better options at OKW). Giordano's will deliver to our OKW villa up until midnight. Here's their menu if you want to keep it handy (use the Lake Buena Vista location). Good food/quick service :
http://www.giordanos.com/main.php

Love the neighborhood feel.....beautiful grounds....laid back feeling. No, you can't walk to any disney parks from here and for some that is a "con", but for us, it's really the food options that are the only con. The bus service is good. I know some say you need a car, but we rarely use ours when we stay there except for offsite stuff and maybe other disney resort dining. I feel no matter where u stay in WDW you're going to have some walking to do. I know another poster mentioned they stay in bldg 30 and felt it was a long walk. We were in #34 this summer (which is further than 30 to the HH) and we timed the walk. It was approx 8 min walk each way. I think for some it just seems far. I will say if you get bldg 49 thru 55, the walk is probably 15-20 min depending on the bldg. But you also run the chance of getting a bldg that is perhaps 30 seconds to 5 min from the main bldg. Just request "close to Hospitality House" if walking is an issue.
Enjoy your stay.

 

[Esteri]

If you are in a 1 or 2 bedroom unit and have guests sleeping in the living room, be sure to ask for a building number 30 or higher so you have an extra door into the bathroom. This prevents you from having folks going through the master to get to the toilet.

Oh Ho! Important tip, that, with two kids staying in the Living Room.

Many Thanks.

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

What a bunch of great replies.

We are going home for two weeks at the end of February. We booked pretty late and we able to get a 1BR @ OKW. We have not stayed there. By the sounds of it, we should.

We own @ BCV, but have also stayed @ SSR. We prefer BCV, but we being very open-minded about OKW. My brother stayed there two years ago on our points and was very satisfied with the room. His only complaint was that the weekend was too short to really take in the resort field while trying to cram as many parks into two days as possible.

Anybody else have any other things to say about OKW?